Grappling tongs



H. F. HENLEY GRAPPLING TONGS Jan. 4, 1938.

Filed Feb. 8, 1937 %W m N T #15 M v/ M www Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

6 Claims.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a pair of tongs which are easily adjustable with relation to each other and to objects of a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which may be used in connection with objects in positions which may be inaccessible by other means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for use in removing clinkers etc., from heating plants, and to be used in placing lumps of fuel in the most advantageous positions within the heating plant.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which may beused for the'purpose of handling objects of varying sizes, and more especially castings of nominal sizes which are usually handled while in a heated condition.

.A still further object of the invention is the provision of a devicewhichmay be modified to be quickly adaptable to various sizes and forms ofobjects and materials whether they be large or small, also to be used in retrieving objects from under, the surface of water.

- A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new article of manufacture, which is simple of construction and operation, which is economical to manufacture; and which may be produced in great quantities with a minimum amount of equipment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will suggest themselvesin. the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The most satisfactory manner of carrying out the principles of the invention in a practical, economical, and efficient manner is shown in the accompanying one sheet of drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with objects (shown dotted) being held therein.

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the device, taken from line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure3 isa detail front end view of the device, taken from line 33 of Figure 1. V

Figure iis a partial detail elevation of the inner face of one of the engaging arms, taken from line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section through the lower end of the engaging arm, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section, taken on line 6-45 of Figure 1, showing one of the hinged link members'together with the securing means thereof.

Figure '7 is a detail plan and section detail, taken strap, and Figure 11 is a detail elevation of one 10.

of the links.

1 Like characters designate like parts throughout the several details and views. In order that the construction and the advantages of the invention may be more fully 15 understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which the same willbe more fully set forth.

In the drawing, A, B, and C (shown dotted) designate objects to illustrate the manner in which the tongs are used. 7 g

I designates the upper tong member of the device, the same being formed of a metallic strap with the major portion thereof extending rearwardly and forming a handle portion thereby. An. upwardly curved portion l is formed at the forward end portion of the handle I, with the same being then extended downwardly and forwardly with relation to the handle portion, and with the downwardly extending portion being designated by 2. The lower end portion 2' is curved, slightly rearwardly with relation to the portion 2, and an indenture 2 is formed on the rear surface of the portion 2" and forming the two points 2 thereby which provide means for more securely grasping comparatively small objects.

3 designates the lower and comparatively smaller member of the device, with the rear portion thereof forming a handle portion therefor. 4 Near the forward end portion of the member 3, the upwardly curved portion 3 is formed, with the same being turned downwardly and forwardly, and forming the portion 4. A forwardly extended portion 4 is formed at the lower end portion. of

the downwardly extending portion 4, and forms a concave surface on the forward face of the portion 4, with the concave surface providing a means for the grasping of comparatively small objects.

An aperture is formed vertically through the member 3 for pivotally securing the link securing strap 5 thereto by means of the loose rivet 6. The link securing strap 5 is formed of a length of sheet metal having the apertures 5 5 and 5 55 formed therethrough for the reception of the rivet 6. The strap 5 is formed with a loop 5' being formed at each end thereof, as shown in Figure 10, for the reception of the respective link members I and 8. It will be noted that the link member I is comparatively shorter than the mem her 8, and thereby allowing greater flexibility in the use of the device for objects of various sizes, with the link 8 allowing a greater distance between the members I and 3. The loose rivet B provides a pivot joint between the link strap 5 and the member 3, and thereby allowing the strap to be turned end for end, and to thereby provide a further variance between the members I and 3 and the leverage produced therethrough.

Figures 8 and 9 show a modification of the engaging arm arrangement of the device. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a comparatively widefaced engaging member 9 having the lower and upper forwardly curved portions 8' and 9" respectively formed thereon and with apertures being formed through the central portion of the member 9 for the reception of the rivets Ill. The comparatively short downward extension 4 is formed at the forward end portion of the member 3 with two apertures being formed therethrough and registering with the apertures which are formed through the member 3 and with the rivets I6 rigidly securing the member 9v in fixed relation with the portion 4 Figure 11 illustrates the link member I which is hingedly secured in one of the loops 5 of the strap 5, with the same having the inwardly-turned ends I directed toward each other. The link 3 is similar to the link I except that the same provides for greater variance between the members I and 3.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: 7

With the tong members being formed as shown in the drawing, it is apparent that the members I and 3 are adjustable longitudinally with relation to each other through either of the link members 1 or 8. When it is desired to engage an object, it is only necessary to move the member I forwardly with relation to the member 3, and thereby providing greater space between the parts 2 and 4. The portion 2' of the part 2 is hooked on the side of the object farthest removed from the operator, after which the member 3 is moved forwardly and engaging the nearest side of the object. The object thus clamped between the parts 2 and 4 can then be lifted from its position and removed therefrom to another position after which the member 3 is drawn rearwardly from the object and thus releasing the object therefrom.

The hinged links 1 and 8 together with the pivoted link-securing strap provides a wide range of variance between the parts 2 and 4, and also between the handle portions I and 3, thereby providing a greater or lesser degree of leverage between the parts 2 and 4, and affording a greater degree of flexibility than can be obtained in the conventional type of tongs which are comprised of two parts pivotally secured together. The links "I and 8 also provide a means for preventing the objects from becoming disengaged from between the parts 2 and 4 by reason of any possible rolling action, as the arrangement of the link members in relation with the members I and 3 provide a means for absolute control of the parts 2 and 4 through the handle portions I and 3.

I desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact shape or form of the engaging points as: shown in the drawing, but may substitute engaging points of different shapes suitable for objects and materials of difierent forms.

I also desire that it be understood that minor 7 changes may be made in the several details and in the arrangement of the parts herein shown and described, insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully shown and described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. In grappling tongs, a pair of members adjustably positioned with relation to eachother, with one of said members being freely slidably positioned with relation to the other member, and with a third member pivotally secured to one of said pair of members and providing a guiding means for the other member of the pair.

2. In grappling tongs, a pair of members removably secured together, with a portion of each member forming a handle and with an end portion of each member forming an engaging arm, and means for slidably adjustably positioning one member with relation to the other member with said means being pivotally secured to one of the members.

3. In a grappling tong, a pair of members slidably adjustable with relation to each other, a hinged link adjustably positioned on one of said members, and means for pivotally securing the hinged link with relation to the member on which it is secured.

4. In a grappling tong, the combination of a pair of adjustable members, hinged links pivotally secured to one of said members, and with one of said members being slidably positioned through the link members with relation to the other membar.

5. In a grappling tong, the combination of a pair of cooperating members, with one of said members being slidably positioned with relation to the other member, means for slidably positioning one member with relation to the other member, and with the positioning means being pivotally secured to one of the members.

6. A grappling tong, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating members, connecting means pivotally positioned on one of said members and extending from one of the cooperating members to the other cooperating member and providing a means thereby for allowing one of said members to slide endwise with relation to the other of said members.

HARRY F. HENLEY. 

